Massage apparatus



Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,633

A. A. HENDRlcKsoN MASSAGE APPARATUS Y Filed March 28, 1928 A Y A un g|11 Aung wf of simple,

Patented Jan. 2%, i929.

U ift' stares ears tisanes ABB-AM ALLAN HENDRCKSON, 0F ORADELL, JERSEY.

MASSAGE APPARATUS."

applicati@ mediteren 28, ieee.v sensing. 255,464. l.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of a device whichmay be conveniently used for accomplishing an ei'licient self-massage ofpractically any part ofthe body. A secondary function of the apparatusis its possib-le use as an eirerciser The device is of the type m whichan elongated flexible member is provided with handles at its endsandwith massaging roll ers or similar elements at its intermediateportions. ft is used by grasping the handles with the two hands, andreciprocating the massaging elements across the portion` of the bodywhich is to be massaged. By use of the device, an extremely`invigorating massage may be had, and the device is quiteA eiiicient inreducing weight, in that it effectively breaks down much of the fattytissue in the area being massaged. v

Prior devices of this general character have been subject to onematerial disadvantage,

' which is the fact that they were illsuited to meet sanitaryrequirements, and could not be washed without injury.

In accordance with the present invention l have provided a massagingdevice of this Q character having no metal parts, and no parts which canbe rusted or otherwise injured by the action of soap and water.V lnconsequence, the entire device may be conveniently washed or sterilizedand may j further be safely brought into intimate Contact y withv thevarious parts of the users body to be treated.

Another material advantage of the present invention is the fact that lprovide a device having y no projecting parts which might scratch, cut,or otherwise injure the users body. The parts of the massage' apparatushereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention maybe more fully understood from the following description inconnectionwith the accompanying drawings,

wherein* Fig. 1 is a broken view/mainly in planvand partlyin sectionthrough a massage' device embodyingV the invention. j 'j y Y Fig. 2 isan edge viewof Fig. 1,taken'ap prorimately on the line 2-'2 thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view ysimilar to Fig. 1, but showing a slightmodification.`

in the drawings l have used they reference numeral 10-10 to desigiiate'apair of parallels handles, the ends of which are connected by pairs ofparallel flexibledevices 11 preferably 'comprising lengths ofinelastictape. The handles 10 are/preferably cut away or grooved at 12 to receivethe tape and prevent the tape Vfrom slipping off the ends ofthe handle.Each tape comprises two overlying laminations, and the twov thicknessesofl tape `are sewed together by a plurality of lines of transversestitching 13; the spaces between the stitching serving as pockets 14receiving the reduced portions 15 of 4axles 16 for mase,

sage rollers 17. Any suitablenumber of the rollers may be mounted uponeach axle, be-

ing restrained against endwise movements by vthj tapes 11, but beingfreely rotatable onth'e ax es.

When they two handles are grasped, the massage elements placed incontact with the body, and the entire device reciprocated by pulling itrst in one direction and then in the other, aswillbe readily understood,v"a very invigorating and effective massage'may be Preferably, no metalpartsy are used in the construction. The axles, massage rollers, andhandles are of wood or other non ymetallic material and the entiredevice may be readilyV washed or sterilized.

Considered froma structural standpoint, i

numerous expedients mightbe resorted to in the form of axle-receivingpockets 14, and" numerous non-metallic ,materials might be used toconstitute the balls and cross pieces.

In Fig. 3, l have shown a slight modification of the invention in whichpairs of side tapes 20 are connected to end handles 21.

Adjacent the handles, side tapes 20 are connected by cross pieces22serving to anchor the lends of an intermediate Hexible tape 23disposedin parallelismfwith'the tapes 20 and spaced therefrom. Here, the rolleraxles 24 are enga-ged by all three tapes and held againstk axialdisplacement thereby, and -massaging balls or equivalent elements25y arearranged on the exposed portionsof the axles between the tape 23 andeach side tape 20.

Obviously, various changes and alterations might be made i-n the generalform `and arrangement of the parts described Without departing from theinvention. Hencel donot Wish to limit myself to the details set forth,but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes andalterations as fairly fall Within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A massage device of the class described including a pair of handles,spaced parallel flexible devices connecting the handles, transverselydisposed axles, the ends of which are secured to the flexible devicesand massaging rollers mounted on the axles, the flexible devicescomprising lengths of tape and the roller handles and axles being ofWood.

2. A massage device of the class described including a pair of handles,spaced parallel flexible devices connecting the handles, transverselydisposed axles, the ends of Which are secured to the flexible devicesand 4massaging rollers mounted on the axles,'the flexible deviceslimiting endWise sliding movement of the rollers onthe axles, andcomprising tapes defining pockets rotatably receiving reduced portionsof the axles to hold the latter against axial displacement.

A massage device of the class 4described including a pair of handles,spaced parallel flexible devices connecting the handles', transverselydisposed axles, the ends of Which are secured to the flexible devicesand massaging rollers mounted on the axles, said flexible devicescomprising tapes delining pockets rotatablyy receiving reduced portionsof the axles to hold the latter against axial displacement, ysaidpockets being formed by parallel

